Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-10
publicans adopt that policy, the Demo
Gratis will have great difficulty in carry

Gratis will have great difficulty in carry
ing Virginia next year.
Governor Fiizhugh Lee was seen TINS
evening nj the Executive Mansion by The
Suns correspondent lie has just com
pleted his own message, and is over
Nbelmed with work incident 10 the as
sombling OF the Legislature. lowing
to these circumstance, said the Gov
ernor. 81 have not as vet had time to
carefully read the Presidents message.
For this reason | would rather not eX-
the correspondent. "will in your opinion
be the effect OF a f0iure OF Congress to
remove the tax on tobacco and
fruit-brandies?" "No action III
that respect" responded tho Governor,
"wOuld make Virginia very dUubtul
State IN the presidential election. b.
lieve that the President would approve
legislative action looking in that dircc-
ton, II adopted The Governor seemed
/ 10 be very much amused ct the nimble-
/ ness with which Mr. Blaine springs into
the presidential arena in the Interview
r given ont by him in Paris. Tho
/ Democrats have no fears Of MIR. Blaine,
added General Lee. " he has been on
nearly all sides OF every important CUES
ton before the country" 1T was not
long ago, " added q tobbacco-mauuiac-
turer, who was present, "that Candidate
Blaine Was opposing the abolition Of the
tax on tobacco
LieutCnant-G Governor John L. Massey
said ne desire Of President Cleve-
land, rs shown in his recent message, to
stop the accumulation OF surplus revenue
in the Treasury should be universally
commended Every man should en-
dorse the sentiment that no more should
be demanded from the people, in any
form, than is necessary to economically
maintain the Government. His adyO-
cacy OF r proper revision Of the
tariff laws is wise and timely. ard
especially should his advocacy Of
such a revision as will Justly pro-
tect both those who produce and those
who consume be seconded by onr law
makers. regret that by implication Ire
seems 10 favor Il continuation of the in
ternal-reyeuue tax. lt may be true that
none Of the things subjected to IN
ternal-rcyenuc taxation are, strictly
speaking, ucccssaries. but their produc-
ton are important industries, which are
greatly damaged by this oppressive, un
just, and discriminating tax. Moreover
it is a war measure and ought, rs every
other relic of the war, to be buried out
of sight 70 necessity exists for its con
tinuancc, and the whole system should
be wiped out
Mr.. James B. Pace, the president Of
the Planters National Bank, and at one
time one OF the largest manufacturers
and purchasers of tobacco in this city,
was seen this evening by the Sun cor
rcspon lent. "What are your views
about the effect Of the Presidents mos
sage, particularly with regard to in
ternal revenue 2" was asked. 81
agree with what Blaine is credited
with having said to TrijUpc re-
porter SO far as the tax on tobacco I
is concerned. To many it is not
luxury no more so, indeed, than gr0ce- /
ries. / agree with the President about |
the necessity of reducing the surplus /
now in the Treasury. Mr.. Cleveland |
has very poiutedly pointed ont to the !
country in his message the importance /
of keeping down this. Now so iaras the /
abolition of the Internal revenue is con- |
ccrned, ] think the people Of Virginia /
and North Carolina will content them /
selves with the removal OF the tax on 4
tobacco and fruit-braniics. lfthis Is not /
-
Virginia and North Carolina will, IN my .
opinion, be doubtful States in the presi
dental contest next year. III, contin- /
ned Mr. Pace, Congress will pass T.
tariff measure at this session, |
within its scope tho removal !
of the tax on tobacco and fruit-branlies, |
/ feel satisfied that it would meet the app
pr0va! of the President. IT," said Mr..
Pace, "such a measure isadopted mt this
session. the Democrats viii be inyincible
in Virginia and North Carolina, and 81 |
course all the balance of the South.
Mr.. John L. Branch, Of Thomas
Branch d Co., bankers and brokers,
said: "The Presidents message is a
good one, but he is wrong-all wrong
on the internal revenue. 4 failure to
abolish this system will, think, lose
Virginia and North Carolina to the
Democrats next year. The adoption Of
such policy will insure to that party
the whole South"
Mr.. John SHELTON Williams, Of the
firm Of John L.. Williams C
Son, said The message is highly ac-
,eptable to this community. The tariff
argument is very able. think the aoo-
ltion Of the old internal war tax should
have been more strongly urged. The
burden Of the tobacco-tax now operates
o much restrict the number of manu-
acturers, keeping men Of small capital
out of the business"